Should You Have Revision Rhinoplasty?

When you scheduled your initial rhinoplasty, you had high hopes for the results. But a year or two later, your nose doesn’t look or function the way you had expected it to. Or you might have injured your nose after your initial surgery. In that case, a secondary, or revision rhinoplasty procedure might be a suitable option for you.

Revision rhinoplasty isn’t a quick touch-up procedure. It is usually more complex than your initial surgery, as the surgeon performing it needs to work with or around the changes already made to your nose. Just as you did before your first surgery, you’ll want to carefully consider why you want the surgery and weigh the pros and cons of going forward.

You Aren’t Happy With Your Primary Rhinoplasty Results

One of the major reasons for a revision rhinoplasty is dissatisfaction with the results of the first surgery. You might not be happy with the way your nose looks for a few reasons. The surgeon who performed the initial surgery might not have had the skill or training required to produce a good result. Or you might have gone into surgery thinking you wanted your nose to look one way, only to realize after the fact that you didn’t like it. It’s also possible for the first surgery to change your nose in a way that affects its function, not just its appearance. For example, you might want a revision procedure if you begin to have difficulty breathing after the first surgery.

Something Happened to Your Nose After Surgery

Revision rhinoplasty might be an option for you even if you were completely happy with your rhinoplasty results. If something happened to your nose that changed it, like an injury, or if something happened to the nose while it was still healing, a revision may be the next step.

How Long to Wait

You might look at your nose in the mirror a day or two after your initial rhinoplasty and think that you hate the way it looks. At that point, it’s usually too early to say for sure whether you will continue to dislike your results. The results from the procedure will develop over the course of several months. It takes time for your nose to heal, for the swelling to go down, and for the bruising to fade. Some patients see their final results after about six months, but it can take as long as a year. For that reason, it’s usually best to wait at least a year after the first surgery before you start speaking to surgeons about a revision.

Who to See

Your first question when thinking about which facial plastic surgeons to consult with for a revision rhinoplasty might include “should I go back to the original doctor?” The answer to that depends on two things. One, you might consider seeing a different doctor if you think that a lack of skill or training on the part of the initial doctor had something to do with your unwanted results.

Two, you definitely want to see a different surgeon if your first doesn’t regularly perform revision procedures or doesn’t have any experience with them. A revision rhinoplasty isn’t the same procedure as a rhinoplasty, and a surgeon who only performs primary rhinoplasty won’t have the experience needed to perform a secondary procedure.

When interviewing surgeons for your revision procedure, ask them how often they perform revision rhinoplasty. Ideally, you’ll work with a surgeon who performs it on a regular basis, at least every week.

What to Expect from the Surgery

Recovery after your revision surgery will be similar to the recovery after your first rhinoplasty. You’ll typically need about a week off from work to rest up. Over time, the swelling and bruising will decrease and you’ll start to see the results from the procedure. It does take time, though, so you might need another year before your nose looks the way you had hoped it would.

Dr. Shervin Naderi has performed thousands of nasal surgeries, including numerous revision procedures. If you are feeling dissatisfied with the results of your first surgery and would like to see if a revision procedure is the right call for you, schedule an appointment with Dr. Naderi today. Call 301-222-2020 or 703-481-0002 for a consultation.